UK‚Äôs Island (not to be confused with Canada/California‚Äôs Islands) is on their first North American tour, and they are stopping by the 7th Street Entry on Saturday, September 29th. The group‚Äôs debut album Feels Like Air is available now on Frenchkiss Records.
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UK‚Äôs Island (stylized as ISLAND) stopped by the 7th Street Entry on Saturday, September 29th, touring in support of the group‚Äôs debut album Feels Like Air (Frenchkiss Records).

The show started with Dekam & Johnson, two best friends Noah DeKam and Logan Johnson. They are joined on stage by a caj√≥n player Patrick Phalen (normally on drums?) and bassist Robbie Weisshaar.

Noah and Logan took turns on singing, but occasional singing in unison (‚ÄúHanging Around‚Äù). They sound like adult contemporary music, but lists Prince and Bruno Mars as some of their influences. I suppose their R&B influence might account for their Alicia Keys cover song ‚ÄúIf I Ain't Got You‚Äù.

Originally Brooklyn/Florida duo The Blancos was supposed to open, but for whatever reason, they dropped out of the bill. DPLV filled in. The synthy/chillwave/EDM duo used a lot of pre-recorded samples and sound effects, which required them to stay in perfect timing/sync, and unfortunately they had to ‚Äúre-do‚Äù and restarted on a few song (‚ÄúLook Back‚Äù was started twice and ‚ÄúTake My Breath Away‚Äù had to be restarted). It was kind of sloppy, but I don‚Äôt think the guys cared and they were having a good time anyway.

During their set, they gave us some facts about themselves, that they were both middle children and skateboarding buddies.

The Top Gun song ‚ÄúTake My Breath Away‚Äù (performed by Berlin), was probably the highlight of the set.

Island came on stage to a dark atmospheric lighting (which remained consistently dark throughout the show). The London band features singer/guitarist Rollo Doherty, guitarist Jack Raeder, bassist James Wolfe, and drummer Toby Richards, and it‚Äôs their first time in America. We got to talk to the traveling crew and they told us that they weren‚Äôt used to the Minneapolis coldness (it‚Äôs September after all). They said, ‚ÄúI know it gets cold in London, but it‚Äôs not like here (Minneapolis)...‚Äù and continued to talk about how they were in Phoenix and that was extremely hot.

It‚Äôs a learning experience, and you can tell the rest of the band is very excited to be in such a foreign country to them.
In fact, singer Rollo Doherty, introducing the song ‚ÄúI‚Äôve Been Searching‚Äù, tried to blend in as an American and started using phrases he thinks Americans would say: ‚ÄúWe‚Äôre going old school on your asses! ... Do you guys say things like that?‚Äù

In typical debut album tour, the band would play practically every song (or most songs) off their debut album, and it‚Äôs no different for Island. Except in their case, they actually released a few EPs pre-album, including A Place You Like and Girl.

The biggest challenge for Island isn‚Äôt about gaining new fans, because there‚Äôs certainly a group that were really into this new band and were praising the UK band‚Äôs music. The biggest challenge is that their name is has already been used by numerous other bands/musicians: Swiss progressive group Island, Eurovision (Cyprus)'s Island, German metal band Island, Chicago‚Äôs jazz/psychedelic rock band Island, Island Records, and Canada‚Äôs Islands. I guess it‚Äôs like that old paraphrase, no band is an island...